Search form

Bayer applies for EPA registration of first SDS seed treatment

Over the past few decades, soybean growers in the Midwest and around the United States have faced a challenge to their crops – Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) – which is dependent on early-season moisture, but when it hits, is devastating to their crops. Bayer CropScience announced that it has an application pending with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the registration of ILeVO seed treatment. If approved, ILeVO seed treatment would be the first product to provide breakthrough protection for soybean seedlings from the soil borne pathogen Fusarium virguliforme, the fungus that causes SDS.

SDS is present in all major soybean-growing regions and continues to adapt into new geographies, causing massive destruction to soybean growers’ crops. Once a field is infected, SDS is there to stay. From 2009 to 2011, it is estimated that SDS caused annual yield losses of 42 million bushels per acre, proving itself to be a voracious threat to soybean growers .

During research and field trials, ILeVO seed treatment has shown to protect soybeans from early-season infection and reduce late-season leaf chlorosis and necrosis that leads to leaf, flower and pod abortion, resulting in yield loss. The active ingredient in ILeVO is systemic and moves from the seed into the tissue of both the stem and roots of soybean seedlings, a method of distribution that is critical to the success of ILeVO for SDS disease control.

“The cotyledons and roots act as a sink for ILeVO, enabling the product to stay where it is needed to protect against early-season infection way in advance of SDS visual symptoms appearing in the field,” said Jennifer Riggs, Bayer SeedGrowth product development manager.

Daren Mueller, assistant professor at Iowa State University said that growers should focus on an integrated approach to SDS management.

“While we do have some levels of resistance to the disease in many of the maturity groups, there are no soybeans that are completely immune to SDS. Having an integrated management approach with the addition of ILeVO would provide a sound set of tools for growers to protect their crop when resistance breaks down. We’ve tested it, and it appears to be a very effective product in preventing damage from SDS,” stated Mueller.

In line with Bayer CropScience’s commitment to stewardship, research has shown that ILeVO is safe to the seed with no impact on germination. ILeVO boasts an excellent in-can product stability profile and is compatible with Bayer SeedGrowth™ portfolio of soybean seed treatments.

Bayer currently anticipates EPA registration for ILeVO seed treatment by the end of 2014. If registered this year, Bayer anticipates ILeVO will be available for the 2015 growing season.